Of course it helps when you have Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson, plus a surrounding cast that just keeps doing its job.

“At any given time, anybody can step up and have a big game,” Carter said after the Nets’ seventh straight victory – a 96-91 Meadowlands win over the Cavs.

“When they were making a run, we were kind of stagnant. J-Kidd just took over and was phenomenal. He was doing it all and RJ was big pretty much the whole game.”

There was some high anxiety – such as when the Cavs cut an 18-point lead to three in the fourth quarter – but the Nets found enough from everybody else to extend their season-high winning streak while ending Cleveland’s run at six before the season’s third sellout at the Meadowlands.

“It wasn’t Vince’s best night – still a pretty good night for the average guy – but it was good to see others step up,” said reserve Jacque Vaughn.

Carter ran into foul trouble, played 31 minutes, finished with 21 points – well off the 34.0 he was averaging during the Nets’ streak, their longest since the 14-gamer in 2004 that started coach Lawrence Frank’s tenure.

Carter was big in the end game, still had numbers (like nine rebounds or 11-of-15 at the line) but the Nets (16-12) sorely needed more from others to fight a rally fueled by LeBron James (31 points), Zydrunas Ilgauskas (21 points) and Larry Hughes (16).

The Nets received game-long, two-way brilliance by Jefferson (28 points); masterful direction by Kidd, who again flirted with his 69th career triple-double but came up short (14 points, 9 assists, 9 rebounds); gritty play by Nenad Krstic (13 points); and 20 points and terrific defense by the bench.

“They made the hustle plays,” said James, who was battled to a virtual standstill by Jefferson – and showed his respect for Kidd.

“He’s Jason Kidd. As long as he’s on the court, he helps, whether he doesn’t score a point, get an assist or turns the ball over 10 times.”

So this was another team win – despite a 4-of-17 shooting fourth quarter that saw a field-goal dry spell from 7:28 until 1:34, nearly six full minutes.

But the Nets had built a cushion with a 19-5 close to the first quarter, .590 first-half shooting and a third-quarter clinic in survival. They missed their first nine shots, Carter played just 3:25 because of fouls – and they still came out leading, 80-62.

“The thing that impressed us was the third quarter, when we couldn’t make a shot, but instead of being deflated, just pressed on,” said Frank.

“That shows the chemistry of the team, the growth of the team in understanding to help Vince,” said Kidd, whose two FTs with :14.9 ultimately iced matters.

“It was a great team effort. Everybody did their part. Everybody stayed in character.”

Even when it got antsy as the Cavs kept coming and coming. The Cavs (17-10), down 89-71 after two Jefferson free throws with 7:10 left, scored 12 straight points to get within six. Carter hit two FTs – he had 11 foul-line points (75 in the last five games), then scored a follow-up dunk. But it wasn’t over. Threes by James and Hughes got the Cavs within four – and it became three when Carter missed 1-of-2 and Eric Snow drove. Then Kidd went to the line.

“Bend but don’t break,” said Carter, who took a backseat to others this time.

“We’ve all had our own success,” said Jefferson. “Vince is our primary scorer, and that’s his role, so when he goes down, it’s not … like I’m not going out there going out of my mind [taking] some crazy shots. Go out, play aggressive and good things will happen.”